Mental Health
Here are 5 things you can do when you’re feeling lonely
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We all have moments when we feel alone and long for connection. Here are five tips that can help alleviate the feeling of loneliness in difficult times.
After a breakup or the loss of a loved one, when we move to another city or country, when we feel socially isolated… There are many reasons why we feel lonely. Not least due to the corona pandemic and the associated lockdowns, “social distancing” and travel restrictions, many people have spent much more time alone than they were used to – and than they would have liked.
Alone vs. Lonely: When Do You Feel Isolated?
Now, being alone does not automatically mean that we feel lonely. Spending time with yourself can be very enriching and relaxing. And there are people who often feel better alone than in company.
On the other hand, we don’t have to be alone to feel lonely. We can also feel isolated in (wrong) company or in big cities between millions of people. Because it’s about quality instead of quantity. So that we don’t feel lonely (anymore), it’s not enough that we’re with other people. We also need to feel close to them, to feel a connection.
Loneliness and a sense of isolation can be very distressing. In the long term, this can even make us ill – mentally as well as physically. So here are five strategies that can help you feel less lonely.
5 SOS tips when you feel lonely
1. Turn on music
Sounds from boxes obviously can’t replace real human interaction, but they might help you feel less alone for a moment. Put on your favorite music and dance through the apartment! Does that make you feel weird? Doesn’t look: r! and studies were able to show that music can lift our spirits. Alternatively, you could also turn on a podcast or the classic way: radio. If you don’t feel like voices at all, there are also soundscapes, i.e. pleasant background noises – from birdsong to rain to city noise, you can find almost everything on many streaming platforms or YouTube that can alleviate the oppressive silence a little.
2. Watch your favorite series
Do you have a TV series that you can comfort-watch? So that always makes you feel good? Because many of the characters in our favorite shows almost feel a bit like dear friends, don’t they? Of course, Rory Gilmore or Carrie Bradshaw can’t replace real relationships, but we might feel a little less lonely when we see familiar faces — if only on screen.
3. Call a loved one
Sometimes it takes a bit of effort (we millennials in particular are said to not like talking on the phone…), but a conversation with a family member or friend is always good for us. This is even scientifically proven: investigations have shown that just a 10-minute phone call to someone you love can reduce feelings of loneliness. And in general, it can help to talk about your feelings, including the negative ones.
4. Take a social media break
Many people only show the best sides of their lives on social media. This can quickly make us feel inferior if we’re not constantly out and about at great parties or gorgeous beaches. And Instagram and Co. can proven make us feel lonelier. That’s why it can be good to take a break from it. This is how you turn FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) into JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)!
5. Go outside
Of course it depends on the weather, but if it’s not pouring rain: put on your shoes and a coat and go outside! A walk is not only good because of the movement, but also because we gather new impressions, see and observe other people, maybe find new inspiration and ideas. It’s best to do a lap in a park or forest. Because time in nature helps loud scientific investigations also against emotional stress.
And if you have the feeling that all of this is no longer of any use: seek help! Talk to a therapist or confide in your doctor. You don’t have to deal with your feelings alone.
Source used: healthline.com